Picture Perfect: A Second Chance Secret Baby Romance
Page 13
We started only three months ago, but I already had a team of eight photographers working for me, and the business was going great. I was happy and fulfilled, feeling like I had finally accomplished something I wanted for so long—something that I had given up on when I gave birth to Maya.
This last year proved that I could realize my dreams if I just kept following them.
After a long day on the beach, we went to the balcony of our hotel room and lay down on the deck chairs to watch the sunset. Our hands intertwined, we watched the horizon in silence, observing the way orange, pink, and purple mixed together and gradually transformed into darker colors the lower the sun went.
The sea’s surface in the distance reflected the sun’s rays, creating a breathtaking yet relaxing image.
“Angie told me that Maya keeps asking Nick and her when they are going to make a baby,” I told him, referring to the phone call I had with her shortly after we returned to our room.
He erupted into a fit of chuckles. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I’m afraid not. According to her, Maya insists that they have a daughter so they can play with Maya’s Barbie dolls together.”
He shook with silent laughter. “Sometimes, I wonder if Maya is way older than she actually is.”
“Well, she certainly acts that way.”
“Definitely. Last week, she asked my mother if she had fake boobs. She heard from someone in daycare that their mother had breast implants, so she thought all women had them.”
“Jesus. I can imagine your mom’s face when Maya asked her that.”
Sylvia just loved Maya. If there was anyone who loved to spoil Maya all the time, it was Sylvia. I was amazed and grateful to her for being so nice to Maya and me. The first time she saw Maya, she literally rushed to her and hugged her as if it was the most natural thing to do. Then she approached me and thanked me for bringing Maya to this world, wishing Noah and me the best of luck.
I could see how much this meant to Noah. His mother had turned a new leaf, respecting Noah’s decisions without trying to force her own opinion on him, and I was so happy for him.
“She nearly had a heart attack. She called me right away and demanded to know why I’m filling her head with such stupid information.”
“Adventures in daycare.”
“Yeah. Today’s kids are so smart. They know everything.”
“Joke aside, I need to have a talk with Maya. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts talking about ‘the birds and the bees’.”
We fell into another silence, and I sighed with contentment. Speaking of kids…
There was something I had wanted to tell Noah since this morning when I found out about it, and this moment at the balcony, when the last of the sun’s rays gave way to the stars, felt like the right one to tell him the great news.
I sat up and turned to face him, my stomach doing small flips in a sudden burst of excitement.
“I want to show you something.”
Noticing the change in my mood, he also sat up. “What is it?”
“Hold on for a sec.”
I went inside and fetched my camera, ready to show him the picture I took this morning. I turned on the device and entered the gallery, making sure the first photo Noah would see was the photo of the beach we visited yesterday.
I returned to my deck chair and handed him the camera. He looked at the photo of the sea and frowned in confusion. “You wanted to show me the sea?”
“Yeah. Look how perfect the light is. It captures the eye, right?”
He laughed, shaking his head at me. “Only you are able to see such details. It’s just the sea, baby.”
I tsked and urged him to keep looking through the photos. “Come on. Look at the next one.”
The next two photos were also ocean shots, but the last photo was the one I actually wanted him to see. It was the photo of my belly with specific words written over it, and I held my breath as I waited for him to look at it.
And when he reached it, he just gaped at it, unable to comprehend immediately what he was seeing.
“What is…,” he began, but his voice died, his eyes widening when the meaning of the photo settled in.
“You’re pregnant?!”
I nodded. “Yep. Baby number two.”
His whole face lightened up, his lips curling up in an enormous smile. “Are you serious? Like serious, serious?”
“Yeah. I did a pregnancy test this morning and it came out positive. You’re going to be a daddy.”
“Fuck yeah!” He jumped to his feet and pulled me up, winding his arms around me in a tight embrace. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you’re pregnant.” I started laughing, excited and elated. “I’m so happy to hear this, Jess! So happy. I love you so much.”
Cupping my face, he pressed his lips to mine, and then on my forehead, and then on my lips again, laughing all the time.
“I love you too,” I told him and kissed him, but this time, our kiss went deeper, all our feelings pouring out through the connection of our bodies.
“This is the best news ever. We need to celebrate this,” he said and picked me up, never taking his eyes off of me.
“And how can we do that?” I asked, teasing him. I knew exactly what he had in mind.
“You know how. I’m going to make love to you all night.”
I winked at him. “That sounds like a great plan.”
He took me inside and lay me down on the bed, keeping good on his promise. He kissed me all over, touching me like I was his most precious thing, each his kiss and touch coated with love and tenderness. And everything was just great.
Life was good indeed.
Also by Krista Carleson
Thank you for reading my ebook. I’d love to hear any questions or comments you may have. Please feel free to contact me at kristacarleson@quickescapepress.com
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